Coffee Shop Visit
In this activity, you will visit a local coffee shop to learn more about their coffee and the impact it has. First, you will research the shop(s) you would like to visit in order to learn about their story and justice practices. You will also prepare a question or two based on your research to ask during your visit.
Then, during your visit, you will ask your questions, purchase a justice-focused coffee to enjoy, and take in your surroundings. After your visit, you will reflect on your experience and how it has influenced the way you think about coffee or other products you consume.
Research and Prepare
Before you visit, do some research on the shop’s website.
Where does their coffee come from? Do they roast it themselves, or purchase from a roaster? What kind of model (ex: Fair trade, direct trade) do they use? What information can you find about the people that grow their coffee?
Then, choose one or two questions to ask during your visit. What are you curious about that you weren’t able to find on their website? You might think about where the shop's coffee comes from, the impact it has on the farmers' lives, or the shop's commitments to coffee justice, environmental sustainability, or the local community
You may also want to look at the menu options for their coffee to help you decide what you will order when you arrive. Your shop may have a variety of coffees, sourced using different methods. You are encouraged to choose a coffee with a story you know, and a positive impact on the growers.
For example, shops may have specific coffees that are Fair trade certified, direct trade, or highlighted as having a positive impact on the growing community. Or, all of the coffee from your shop may be sourced using the same justice-focused model.
Tip: See if the shop has any single-origin coffees. The baristas will more likely know the story of this coffee than those used in a blend.
If you weren’t able to find information about this on the website, this would be a great question to ask your barista as you make your selection!
Visit, learn, and enjoy!
Visit your chosen coffee shop, ask you question(s), and purchase a cup of justice-focused coffee to enjoy! As you enjoy your coffee, think (or talk with a friend!) about what you have learned about the journey those beans have taken to get to you. Also, notice the environment of the shop around you. What do the images, objects, or signs in the shop tell you about who they are, and what their business is about?
Reflect
After your visit, reflect on your experience in 250 words or more: Share what you did and what you learned in the process. Be sure to include specific details. What was it like to enjoy this coffee? What did you learn from your research and experience in the shop? Does this experience change how you think about the items you consume and if so, how?